Reporter s desk



(No Model.)

I. H. WEINBR.

REPORTERS DESK. No. 348,706. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

w th moo ea {juvewfoz 315 My chromc og UNITED STATES ISIDORE H. \VEINER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

REPORTERS DESK.

EPBCIPICA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,706, dated September '7, 18 6- Application filed February 11, 1886. Serial No. 191,596. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that l, lsIDORE H. VEINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Reporters Desks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable othersskillcd in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention is a portable desk intended especially for the use of reporters, stenographers, and students; andit consists in thenovel features shown in the accompanying drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings referred to, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the desk in position for-use, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing it folded for transportation.

In the following description I designate that part of the desk which in operation is nearest the writer, the front, and the opposite side the back of the desk.

My desk consists, essentially, of a base, A, atop,l3,and intermediate connection composed of sections C D E. The top 13 is pivotally connected with the section 0 by brackets ct,which are rigidly secured to the topB and pivoted to the section'O, as will be understood on reference to the drawings. the brackets a, connect the sections 0 and D. They are pivoted to the section 0 and rigidly secured to the section D, as shown. The sections D and E are hinged together by hinges c, secured to the back thereof, and a hook, F, pivoted upon the front of the section D near its lower edgc,engagcs a pin, G, on the section E near its upper cdge,in order to give rigidity to the device. Upon the front of the section D, I place along the side edges and thelower edge the strips (1 cf, and stretch cords 9 across the said section 1) by securing their ends to the strips (1 e in any suitable manner. I thus provide a pocket or receptacle for papers, notebooks, Ste. The strip f along the lower edge of the section D is cut away at its center,so as to provide for the proper working of the pivoted hook F. It will be understood thatinstead Brackets b, similar to of being entirely cutaway, as shown in the drawings, this strip f could be mortised on the side next the strip (1 or e, and the hook F passed through the mortise. The section E is connected with the base A by brackets h, similar to the brackets a and b, pivoted to the said section and rigidly secured to the base.

As before mentioned, Fig. 1 shows the desk in position for use. The base is swung back of the section E and placed on the ground or floor, the section E standing at an incline and the back thereof resting against the edge of the base. The sections D and E will be in thesame line as the hinges c, and the hook F and pin G will hold them in place, as will be readily understood. The lower edge of the upper sec tion, 0, will be in front of and below the upper edge of the section D, and the said section 0 will have an inclination backward, its back resting on the upper edge of the section D. The top 13 will be extended out in front of the section 0, as shown. The back edge of the top B is beveled so as to rest against the section 0 and have the proper inclination for easy writing. The angle which the section 0 forms with the section D and that which the section E forms with the base may be varied by se curing the brackets b and 71 nearer to or farther from the ends of the sections.

By having the several sections assume the relative inclinations shown and described the pressure exerted on the top in writing is transmitted downward to a point within the outline of the base, and the device thereby prevented from tipping over.

\Vhcn the portation,theseveralsectionsareswungaround in the directions indicated by the arrows-4.. e., the top is swung around back of the section 0; the section 0 and the top are then folded down on the section D; the hook F is disengaged from the pin G; the base is swung around in front of the section E, and the whole folded together upon the hinges 0, when the device will appear as shown in Fig. 2. In order that the sections may not bind when swinging past each other, I form them with rounded end edges,as shown.

The advantage of my desk will be readily appreciated. \Vhen the reporter wishes to take notes, he sets up the desk, and instead of device is to be folded for trans ICQ holding his notebook in his hand places it on the desk, and is then enabled to write more conveniently and rapidly. The desk is not only peculiarly adapted to reporters use, but can also be used to advantage in offices, .warehouses, &c.

Heretofore desks have been made in which the top and base have been connected by intermediate hinged connections, so as to permit the folding of the top close to the base and its elevating or u ni'olding therefrom, said intermediatehinged con ncctions being sustained by independentbraccs. By my construction the use of independent means or braces to sustain the top in its elevated or unfolded position is obviated, as the sections are flexibly connected by braces forming a hinge-joint in such manner that they are sclf-sustaining when unfolded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A portable folding desk comprising the following elements in combination: a top and base arranged at a distance apart the one above the other, an intermediate connection inclining from a vertical line, having a portion of the front side, near the upper end,in contact with the rear edge of the top, forming a rest or stop for said top,and a portion of the rear side, near the opposite end,in contact with the front edge of the base, which latter forms a rest or stop for the lower end of the section, and brackand E, hinged together, hook F and pin G-,for

rigidly bracing the hinged jointbetween them,

braces h, pivotally connecting the lower end of section ll with the base, and having its side abutting against the end of the base to form a stop, section 0, having its side abutting against the end of section D, brackets b, pivotally connecting the meeting ends of the sections Oand D, top B, having its end resting against the U side of the section 0, and brackets b, pivotally connecting the sections B and O, the parts being disposed whereby the top and sections may be folded close upon the base, and when uir folded will mutually brace each other and form a selfsustaining structure, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I. H. WEINER. \Vitnesses:

FRED MCGUIRE, W. P. BRENNAN. 

